Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Today is Super Bowl Recovery Day. The Big Game is over, the remains of all the food and drink are piled up everywhere. Work beckons us and we pray nothing major has to happen today. We could all use another day of recovery from America's second biggest food and drink related "holidays" behind Thanksgiving. Here's what's happening around the Colorado beerosphere today Monday, February 4th, 2013.

Metro Denver

Lone Tree Brewing Co (Lone Tree) - Upcoming Barrel-aged beers and recent expansions have kept Lone Tree Brewing busy lately. They just filled their first two whiskey barrels with a Russian Imperial Stout and a Chocolate Cherry Stout. Look for those to age for several months and debut in about a year. Tonight, they are joining with Pasta Jays in Lone Tree for a Surf and Turf Beer dinner at Pasta Jays. A 5-course meal paired with 5 beers featuring steak and lobster tail. Check the Beer Dinner & Pairings listings for details. On Valentines Day, stop in for a pint of their Chocolate Cherry Stout. LTBC will be the featured brewery at an upcoming Tap Takeover at Blue Sushi Saki Grill on 16th Street in Denver on March 10th. Mark your calendars now.

Big Choice Brewing (Broomfield) - Two new beers will be coming soon. Look for their California Common or should they say "Colorado Common" ale to be on tap February 10th. Then later in the month, they will tap a collaboration brew with Fate Brewing - a Biere de Garde style ale. Then on February 10th, they will host a Oh My Firkin God Valentine's Brunch from 11am to 2pm. Cost is $60/couple or $35 single. Immediately after the brunch they will host TRIVIA at 3pm. Coming in March, they will begin using their NEW logo. The compass is gone and two arrows will symbolize the brewery. Look for that on their upcoming 16oz cans.Prost Brewing (Denver) - Anyone beginning to ponder upon what sort of valentine will win over that special someone should consider including a ticket to the Valentine’s Day Dinner at Prost Brewing in this year’s valentine. Prost Brewing will be holding a German themed “Valentinestag Abendessen” (a.k.a. Valentine’s Day Dinner) featuring four of Prost Brewing’s tastiest beers. The menu is extensive and surely satisfying with four courses, each one including a different beer. The meal starts as every meal should, with a pretzel, bier mustard sauce, and a rich, malty flavored Dunkel. The German feast continues with Bier Soup, Pot Roast made Berlin style, and melt-in-your-mouth spaetzle. The dinner will finish with that all important Valentine’s Day item – you guessed it – chocolate. You and your date will no doubt be seduced into eating two moist pieces of Black Forest Chocolate Cake. In addition, you will have a Weiss beer to finish the night off in a state of satisfaction, and possibly even a little under the influence of cupid himself.

Boulder County

Crystal Springs Brewing (Boulder) - Sale of their South Ridge Amber in stores are doing so well that they nearly ran out of beer and they are busy making a lot more of it. Their Summertime Ale (Kolsch-style) is available now and can be enjoyed anytime (not just Summer). They are currently sold out of their Stage House 1899 (Black Ale) but should have more ready by the end of February. Recently, Crystal Springs worked with Fate Brewing Company (who is set to open today) and did a collaboration beer - a Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. Look for that at Fate's grand opening today.

Fate Brewing Company (Boulder) - Today is the day! Their Grand Opening happens today and they will have a variety of collaboration beers on tap that they did with several other Colorado breweries. They plan to open with a full food menu and several beers on tap. While none of the beer they will be pouring today was made at their location, their new brewhouse should be completed in the very near future and they should be able to stock themselves very soon. Doors open today at 5:00pm at 1600 38th Street, Suite 100 in Boulder, CO. Fate Brewing becomes the 6th brewery to open in Colorado already in 2013 behind J Wells, Verboten, Hall Brewing, Cannonball Creek, and De Steeg Brewing. Another 4 breweries are slated to open in Colorado later this month. Read their Grand opening listing.

Northern Colorado

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland) - On the heals of their recent Valentines beer release (The Bleeding Heart Coffee Porter), now comes a bottle release for one of their long-time favorites. On Friday, February 8th, Grimm Brothers will bottle their Master Thief - a German-style porter. Look for bottles of Master Thief to hit local shelves shortly after.

Berthoud Brewing Company (Berthoud) - The city of Berthoud, Colorado will soon be getting a second brewery! Announcing the coming of Berthoud Brewing Company later this year. A final location has not been selected yet for this brewpub which will feature both beer and food, but track their progress on their Facebook or Twitter pages.

Großen Bart Brewery (Frederick) - After doing an extensive search for a brewery location and after examining the saturated markets in Boulder and Denver, they decided on a building on the quaint town square of Frederick, Colorado. Based on their description, the building will be located on the NE corner of 5th Street and Oak Street in Frederick in an existing building which until recently was a bank. They are still targeting a late-Summer opening this year.

Pateros Creek Brewing (Ft. Collins) - Distribution of Pateros Creek's beers in cans and kegs is getting bigger. You can now find their beers in Steamboat Springs, Craig, Summit County, North Denver as well as all over Northern Colorado. To find a location near you - use their Beer Finder.

New Belgium (Ft. Collins) - Following on the heals of their big and highly successful Lost in the Woods sour beer release party, New Belgium announced that the availability of their 2013 La Folie (sour brown ale) and Transatlantique Kriek (sour cherry beer). New Belgium used their giant foeder cellar to age their La Folie. Both beers are part of their Lips of Faith series of beers and will be available on draft and in 22oz bottles. Check out the highlights of their Lost in the Woods release party.

Also, coming later this year, New Belgium will put out a new Summer Seasonal called: New Belgium Rolle Bolle - an ale brewed with Soursop (a Mexican fruit) and Monkfruit (fruit from Thailand). This is part of their ever-rotating list of seasonal beers.

Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing (Ft. Collins) - On tap today, a special West Coast type IPA called - "The Hopfather - Part One". Made with a ton of dry hopping. It's a very hop forward India Pale Ale that is aggressively drop hopped with bold citrus and piney hop aroma and flavors. It has a light body and clean lingering hop finish. Mike their brewer says "I'm gonna make you a beer you can't refuse". It weighs in at 7.1% ABV, with 57 IBU.

Southern Front Range

Pikes Peak Brewing (Monument) - PPBC is hosting their first ever Chili Cookoff this Sunday, February 10th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. If you'd like to enter your award winning chili recipe for their celebrity judges to try contact Courtney[at]pikespeakbrewing.com. If you'd rather just sample than cook - you are welcome to join in. Plenty of chili (and beer) will be available. Free admission. They will also be releasing their new Smoked Amber Ale during that event.

Trinity Brewing (Colorado Springs) - Do you have a lot of old hard back books laying around your place that you want to get rid of? Donate them to Trinity Brewing. They are wanting to gather as many hard cover books as possible to use for decorating around their pub. Bring in a box full of books and they will trade you a sample growler of house beer.
______________________________________________________________________________

Live Music - Beer and music go great together and many Colorado breweries and watering holes offer live entertainment every day. Check out the Colorado Brewery Music Listings and find who's playing at your favorite brewery or beer bar. Updated daily.

Like us on Facebook - There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook Page. Find recaps, special offers, and tips that you won't find on the blog. "Like" us and get even more soon after it happens. Thanks for helping us grow to over 1400+ "Likes" in 2013!

Colorado Beer News is published daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. Stop back here often for all the latest. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.